新雪(しんせつ)

しんせつ
noun
fresh snow; new snow
1. fresh snow; new snow
Snow that has just fallen and has not yet been packed down, melted, or otherwise altered. Valued in skiing for its soft, powdery quality.
新雪(しんせつ)が積(つ)もった。
Fresh snow has piled up.
新雪(しんせつ)の上(うえ)を歩(ある)くのは気持(きも)ちがいい。
Walking on fresh snow feels great.
昨夜(さくや)の新雪(しんせつ)でスキー場(じょう)のコンディションが最高(さいこう)になった。
Last night's fresh snow made the ski resort conditions perfect.

Composed of 新(しん) (new) + 雪(せつ) (snow). Refers specifically to recently fallen snow that is still soft and untouched. Important in skiing and winter sports contexts, where 新雪(しんせつ) is highly prized for its powdery texture.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 新雪(しんせつ)が積(つ)もる: fresh snow piles up
  • 新雪(しんせつ)の上(うえ): on top of fresh snow
  • 新雪(しんせつ)を踏(ふ)む: to step on fresh snow
  • 一面(いちめん)の新雪(しんせつ): a blanket of fresh snow

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 粉雪(こなゆき): powder snow — emphasizes the light, dry texture rather than freshness
  • 残雪(ざんせつ): lingering snow — snow left over from a previous snowfall, the opposite of new snow
  • 積雪(せきせつ): accumulated snow — refers to snow cover depth, regardless of when it fell

NOTE:
Not to be confused with the homophone 親切(しんせつ) (kindness) or 新設(しんせつ) (newly established).

general
Added 2026.4.6 21:08
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